Welcome to the Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT), where we're dedicated to developing, managing, and advocating for permanently affordable, sustainable and ADA accessible housing. Our mission is to provide stability for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes in Durham, North Carolina.
Founded in 1976, Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) began as a neighborhood-based effort focused on preserving affordable housing opportunities and strengthening community stability. Over the decades, DCLT has expanded from serving 8 individual neighborhoods to supporting communities across Durham through permanently affordable homeownership and rental housing. To date, DCLT has helped stabilize and revitalize more than 370 housing units, benefiting over 1,000 individuals and families throughout the city.
DCLT is committed to creating quality, permanently affordable housing connected to jobs, schools, transportation, and community resources. Our work also emphasizes access to green space, sustainable development, and healthy neighborhoods that support long-term community well-being. We believe stable housing creates opportunities for families to build security, invest in their future, and remain connected to the communities they call home. Through education, partnership, and access to opportunity, DCLT continues working to make homeownership and housing stability more attainable for generations to come.
“What sets DCLT apart from other housing organizations is that when you invest with the land trust it is a permanent investment into housing for the community. There is no sunset on our mission of sustaining housing affordability for generations to come.”
– Sherry Taylor, Executive Director, DCLT
Whether individuals choose to rent or pursue homeownership, Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) remains committed to expanding access to quality, permanently affordable housing opportunities across North Carolina. As housing costs continue to rise in many communities, DCLT works to address growing challenges related to affordability, accessibility, and long-term housing stability, including:
-
Rising home prices and rental costs that continue to outpace income growth for many
working families. -
A limited supply of affordable and accessible housing options in competitive housing
markets. -
Increasing demand for housing that has placed additional pressure on longtime residents
and first-time homebuyers. -
Rapid increases in property values and development costs that make homeownership
more difficult to attain. -
Household budgets that are increasingly strained by the rising cost of housing and
everyday living expenses.
31%
(43,236 households) of Durham County households are housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs.
48%
(29,135 households) of renter households face housing affordability challenges.
18%
(14,107 households) of homeowner households, face housing affordability challenges.
Before purchasing a home through DCLT, Gloria faced long commutes and missed family time. Now, living close to her workplace, she enjoys a better work-life balance, with more time for her family and community.
For all these reasons, there is a clear need for increased avenues to affordable and workforce housing at the local level, especially for lower income individuals and families.
Donor Recognition:
We are appreciative of all our donors and have several opportunities to recognize their generosity, including an annual giving club, a legacy club, and naming opportunities for spaces and programs. Please let us know if you would like more information on recognition and naming opportunities.
TOGETHER, WE CAN BRING FAMILIES HOME
We do this because we love our community and because we believe that every person deserves to have a safe and secure home in which they can raise a family, plan for the future, and contribute to their community.
We encourage you to become a part of the Bringing Durham Home campaign and contributing to transforming the lives of families seeking affordable housing.